"We were shocked by the censor's decision to confiscate al-Bawaba newspaper Tuesday issue for the second day in a row," the pro-state daily said in a statement.

"We believe this step threatens not only the future of press freedom in Egypt, but also freedom and democracy in general."

The blocked issues of al-Bawaba had pointed to the interior minister's "security failure" in relation to the deadly blasts targeting Palm Sunday services at churches in the cities of Tanta and Alexandria.

Claimed by the Islamic State militant group, the bombings killed 46 people, including security personnel, and left more than 100 others injured.

"No one can threaten the Egyptian press, even the interior minister, who violated the Constitution and confiscated the newspaper for criticising him," Abdel Rehim Ali, founder and editor-in-chief of al-Bawaba, said in a statement.

Ali, a staunch supporter of the regime and known for his connections to Egypt's security authorities, accused the interior minister of negligence of duty for "failing to secure the Egyptian churches and allowing the terrorists to reach the Nile Delta", according to the statement.

As mourners bade farewell to the victims of the attacks, angry crowds denounced the security services and called for interior minister Magdy Abdel Ghaffar to be replaced and held accountable.

"Leave, leave, Abdel Ghaffar!" mourners chanted.

"The families will be satisfied with nothing except holding those delinquents accountable, even if they include Minister of the Interior," al-Bawaba said in its statement.

Ali also criticised the Prime Minister's approval of the three-month state of emergency, declared by Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the country's president since he staged a coup against his predecessor in 2013, in a televised speech on Sunday.

The new state of emergency grants Sisi the right to issue written or oral directives related to monitoring and intercepting all forms of communication and correspondence, imposing censorship prior to publication and confiscating extant publications, imposing a curfew or ordering the closure of commercial establishments and the sequestration of private property.

The army chief-turned-president also announced the founding of the "Supreme Council to Counter Terror and Extremism", a new security apparatus he said was aimed at combating terrorism on all fronts, including in the media.

In his speech, Sisi criticised the coverage of Sunday's attacks in local media, particularly the publishing of graphic images of the victims, urging media outlets to act with responsibility.

Experts have since warned that the emergency measures will worsen human rights abuses by the state, while alone being ineffective to contain the wave of violence in the country.

The state of emergency may help Sisi further crack down on Muslim Brotherhood “but it won’t get at the real problem,” Eric Trager, a fellow at the Washington Institute specialising in Egyptian politics, told the LA Times. “The real problem is the Egyptian military refuses to adopt a counterinsurgency strategy in the Sinai. Until that changes, it’s hard to imagine the security situation improving.”

Copts, who make up about one tenth of Egypt's population of more than 92 million and who celebrate Easter next weekend, have endured successive attacks since the ousting of Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in a 2013 military coup, led by then defence minister Sisi.

More than 40 churches were targeted nationwide in the two weeks after the deadly dispersal by security forces of two pro-Morsi protest camps in Cairo on 14 August that year, Human Rights Watch said.

In December, a suicide bombing claimed by the Islamic State group killed 29 worshippers during Sunday mass in Cairo.

We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and other customized activities. By clicking “Submit”, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy policy.

X

Sign up to get this in your inbox every week

Tick here to also receive our weekly highlights newsletter!

We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and other customized activities. By clicking “Submit”, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy policy.

X

Want to keep up to date with

the latest news from the Middle East?

Subscribe to our newsletter today!

Iraq Report

Egypt Report

We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and other customized activities. By clicking “Submit”, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy policy.

We use our own cookies and third-party cookies to measure traffic to our website and analyse browsers' behaviour, with a view to improving the services we offerIf you continue browsing, we consider that you accept the use of cookies. View our privacy policy

We use our own cookies and third-party cookies to measure traffic to our website and analyse browsers' behaviour, with a view to improving the services we offerIf you continue browsing, we consider that you accept the use of cookies. View our privacy policy